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BRAZILLIAN AMAZON AND PANTANAL
As a follow up to an earlier 1,200-mile Amazon expedition when Bill and I completed more than 1,000 miles of kayaking little known rivers in the Brazilian Amazon, we revisited the Amazon and Pantanal in 2008.
On this journey we photographed numerous animal and bird species in the rain forest, some rare and endangered. In discussions with local rain forest residents we discovered that global warming is a serious threat, not only to indigenous animal species but also to the land itself. In some areas of the Amazon, first time flooding has destroyed crops and houses.
Our kayaking segment took us south of the Amazon rain forest into the Pantanal, a vast area where the dramatic rise of surrounding rivers creates annual flooding that last for several months. Cattle ranchers have cleared enormous tracts of vegetation vital to the existence of native wildlife. Rising temperatures threaten to impact the ranches as the prevailing sandy soil dries, turning the area into a sandy wasteland which will further endangers wildlife populations, even forcing some into extinction.
However there is hope in the Pantanal. Some ranchers have turned to ecotourism as a major source of income. They protect thousands of acres to the benefit of the birds and animals that depend on the Pantanal for their continued survival.
With the rainy season in full swing under leaden skies, and the rivers rapidly rising, we beached our kayaks, packed our gear, and returned to our home in Washington State to plan another expedition for Adventure Classroom. Meanwhile, enjoy the photos!
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All photos (c) Helen Thayer
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